Monday vs. Philadelphia

*Dusty Baker said the club has not decided on a starter for Thursday against the Cubs. “Soon,” Baker said.

I think it will be Travis Wood, who has a 2.82 ERA over his last 10 starts and a 0.63 ERA over his last four starts. He last pitched on Friday and worked eight scoreless innings.

*Homer Bailey (right should inflammation) threw for the first time today since he was shut down over two weeks ago. Bailey threw on flat ground and made 30 throws from 60 feet. He will increase the intensity and distance each day.

“When you don’t throw for two weeks and all of a sudden throw, it’s kind of like sitting on the couch for a long time and then walking,” Bailey said Monday. “The first few steps you’re like ‘oh man.’ After that, it’s all right, I’m good. It was pain free. Everything was nice and loose. Granted, it’s only day one but definitely they’re good signs.”

*Outfielder Chris Dickerson (right hand/wrist surgeries) is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday but that’s not even close to happening. Dickerson, whose rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville got scrubbed last week when he was sore following batting practice, got a cortisone shot in his wrist Sunday.

“It’s sore today and hopefully some of that point from the shot will go away and I can start swinging again tomorrow,” Dickerson said. “It’s not exactly following the plan of being out four-to-six weeks. I’ve talked with specialists from all disciplines and when you get into the wrist, it’s very delicate. And it can be very touchy sometimes.”

*Baker will have a deeper bullpen with Bill Bray joining fellow lefties Arthur Rhodes and Daniel Ray Herrera. The Phillies starting lineup tonight features four lefty hitters and two switch hitters. A fifth lefty is on the bench.

“It’s not a luxury. It’s something I think is a necessity at this point,” Baker said. “If your lefties are getting lefties out, that’s when the luxury comes in. Boy, do they have some lefties.”

*Through three games of his rehab assignment at Louisville, Ryan Hanigan is 1-for-11 (.091). Hanigan is scheduled to DH for the third time tonight in the game at Norfolk.

*After this series, the Reds don’t play again at Great American Ball Park until they open the second half of the season on July 16 vs Colorado…the 15 days without a home game is the Reds’ longest since a 15-day stretch from May 31-June 14, 2001.

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